Jamie says: Remember how I won the Glory Foods Soulful Lunches contest in October? I’d been saving my Glory Foods canned food prize basket for a special occasion. I couldn’t quite put my finger on what I wanted to do with the basket, but I knew I wanted to share the food…

The prizes in my basket from the Glory Foods Soulful Lunches Recipe Contest

I recently found out that a young dietitian I met last year during my dietetic internship passed away. Her name was Neha Patel, and she was a kind woman who worked for WIC (Women, Infants, and Children). I also learned that the Gainesville District Dietetic Association was raising money for the March of Dimes March for Babies in honor of Neha.

Then it came to me. I wanted to use the foods from my Glory Foods prize basket to host a benefit dinner for the March of Dimes in memory of Neha.

The thought became a reality. I hosted my first benefit dinner. It was on 6:30 PM on March 17th, St Patrick’s Day. I requested a donation of $15 per person. Twelve guests attended. The dinner party was a success. The food was delicious; the company was amazing; and money was raised for a great cause. So far, I’ve raised $255 for the March of Dimes March for Babies. Thank you to everyone who attended and/or donated. If you would like to donate, please visit my March of Dimes page. The walk will take place this Saturday, March 24th.

I wore my Glory Foods prize apron. What was on the menu? I made (from left to right in the picture): cabbage; string beans and string beans with potatoes; blackeye peas and blackeye peas with rice; cornbread and corn muffins; skillet corn, pulled pork; garlic kale chips; fried apples; and chicken wings.

Me and the meal- celebrating: the Glory Foods food contest prize, raising money for March of Dimes, and St. Patrick’s Day!

I used a cornbread mix box to collect the money.

Honey-Sweetened Green Tea, St. Patty’s Day decor, and the donation box for March of Dimes

I also decorated napkins for St. Patty’s Day.

Check out my art skills! I drew shamrocks on the napkins with a green permanent marker.

I made chicken wings and Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork and for the main dishes. (Everything I served used a Glory Foods product except the iced tea and pork).

Chicken Wings with Sweet Onion Hot Sauce

They had the perfect amount of heat (spicy factor, that is). They were mild which is just how I like ’em.

Chicken Wings with Hickory Smoked Hot Sauce

I added sauteed onions to the tops of the cornbread muffins. I also made plain corn muffins. I altered them on the plate for an artistic effect.

Cornbread Muffins with Sauteed Onions & Corn Muffins

I thought the muffins looked so pretty.

Check out those golden onions!

I dipped my cornbread in the fried apples. I later put honey “butter” (Smart Balance buttery spread + honey) on top of the one leftover corn muffin. Both toppings were fabulous options.

The parsley adds some green for St. Patty’s Day.

I made a slight variation to my winning kale chip recipe by using garlic instead of salt.

Garlic Kale Chips

Mom made an awesome recommendation- to use display the Glory Foods cans with parsley or tissue paper. I decided on cilantro and placed the cans next to the corresponding food items so my guests could identify those they liked in the grocery store. I also recommended my guests take a sprig to go along with the Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork.